Zoya Anwar found alive and well: "Straight A" student, 18, who vanished at her school gates 9 days ago found in Birmingham

Zoya Anwar found alive and well: 'Straight A' student, 18, who vanished at her school gates 9 days ago found in Birmingham
Zoya Anwar vanished at the gates of King Edward VI School in Handsworth, Birmingham, on February 26She was spotted by city centre security guards who recognised her pictureFour men and a woman, aged between 27 and 48, were originally arrestedThey were all said to know her and were released without charge

By
Becky Evans

PUBLISHED:

17:20 GMT, 6 March 2013

|

UPDATED:

00:27 GMT, 7 March 2013

A-level student Zoya Anwar who vanished after saying goodbye to friends at her school gates has been found following a nine day search.

She was spotted by security guards in Birmingham City Centre late last night and was taken to Birmingham Central police station where specially trained officers were interviewing her.

Four men and a woman arrested in connection with her disappearance were yesterday released without charge.

West Midlands police said the decision to release the
five was taken following a number of sightings of King Edward VI
student, Zoya Anwar, in the Digbeth area of Birmingham yesterday.

Found: Zoya Anwar, who had not been seen for more than a week, has been found safe and well in Birmingham City Centre by security guards who recognised her from the police appeal

Zoya was last seen more than a week ago at the gates of her school King Edward VI

The A-Level student had not been seen
since saying goodbye to friends outside her school in Handsworth,
Birmingham, last Tuesday.

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: 'Missing teen Zoya Anwar has been found in Birmingham city centre.

'She was
spotted by security guards who called police after seeing our appeal.

'Zoya has been taken to Birmingham Central police station where specially
trained officers will speak to her to make sure she is ok.

'It goes without saying that we thank everyone who helped the search for
Zoya by sharing our appeal. You have yet again helped save the day.'

Staff at Zoya's school reported her missing to police on Friday as she had not been seen since the previous Tuesday.